Guide to the Eric Rath Collection
MS 299
Finding aid prepared by Bryan D. Cullen
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
October 26, 2015
Title: Eric Rath Business Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 299
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.0 Linear feet
(5 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1969-1982
Abstract: This collection contains papers related to the various business projects conducted in the San Diego area by Eric Rath.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English, German, and Spanish.
creator:
Rath, Eric, 1911-1980
Biographical / Historical Notes
Eric Rath was born on January 23, 1911. He was president of Pacific International Hover Craft, Mexicoach, TRC Development,
and Tijuana-Baja Tours. He lectured about transportation at University of California at San Diego, National University of
Colombia, and at the Superior War Academy in Bogota, Colombia. He was also a transportation services advisor for the Colombian
government as well as for the Department of Defense. He was awarded Putnam Food Award and several others.
Eric Rath started Pacific International Hover Craft (PIHCo) in 1969. The company leased the hovercraft from a British hovercraft
company, Seaspeed. The plan was to transport tourists between San Diego and Tijuana. The hovercraft was able to successfully
make a trip down into Tijuana, but on the return trip the engines broke down and required to be towed by the Coast Guard.
Eventually PIHCo went bankrupt in the fall of 1971.
Eric Rath started another company in 1970 called Mexicoach which planned to transport tourists by bus between San Diego and
Tijuana. In 1975, Mexicoach had some issues with traffic on its trips to Mexico; in 1978, Eric Rath tried to arrange an agreement
with Amtrak where it would use the train to take people down into Tijuana instead. The agreement with Amtrak did not work
out, but the Mexicoach business was successful and is continuing business today. In 1975, Eric Rath supported the building
of a Transportation Center, which would bring together various schools in the San Diego area and focus on training students
in the transportation business. Rath’s company, TRC Development, focused on the transportation of perishable goods.
Scope and Content
This collection contains papers related to the various business projects conducted in the San Diego area by Eric Rath. The
majority of the collection relates to PIHCo and consists of blueprints of the hovercraft, meeting minutes, correspondence,
financial information, administrative records, informational studies, newspaper articles, reference material booklets, and
publicity photos. In addition there are numerous transportation reports and studies as well as information on other projects
Rath was involved with. They provide a perspective on the border situation in the 1970s.
The Transportation Center project has information outlining the creation of a transportation center for education, but there
is little information about the how successful it was. The San Diego-Tijuana Train Plan concerns the combining Mexicoach with
Amtrak to alleviate traffic problems when transporting tourists between San Diego and Tijuana. Also included is a speech written
by Congressmen Brock Adams about the California railroad service. The San Diego County Study that was used by TRC Development
in their business of helping transport perishable goods is also included.
Arrangement
Arranged by project in the following series.
Series I: Pacific International Hover Craft Company
Series II: Miscellaneous Projects
Series III: Transportation Reports
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
San Diego Economic Development Research Program’s spine is taped with duct tape.
Preferred Citation
Eric Rath Collection, MS 299, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Bryan D. Cullen in April, 2013.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number: 831206A.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Adams, Brock, 1927-2004
Alvarez Malo, Ignacio
Alvarez Malo, Jose
HoveRun.
Mexicoach.
Pacific International Hovercraft (PIHCo).
Seaspeed.
Series I:
Pacific International Hover Craft Company
1967-1980 and undated
Box-folder Oversize Collections F4D1
Hovercraft blueprints
1969-1971
Box-folder 1:1
PIHCo Board of Directors
1969-1971
Box-folder 1:11
Economic, Feasibility and Operational Studies
1969-1970 and undated
Box-folder 1:12
Economic, Feasibility and Operational Studies
1969 March-1969 October and undated
Box-folder 1:13
Economic, Feasibility and Operational Studies
1970 August 24 and undated
Box-folder 2:1
Economic, Feasibility and Operational Studies
1969 and undated
Box-folder 2:2
Economic, Feasibility and Operational Studies
1969 August and undated
Box-folder 2:3
Hovercraft - Planning
1969-1971 and undated
Box-folder 2:4
Hovercraft - Planning
1970 and undated
Box-folder 2:5
Hovercraft - Operations
1970 and undated
Box-folder 2:6
Articles
1970 and undated
Box-folder 2:8
Miscellanea
1967 and undated
Series II:
Miscellaneous Projects
1971-1981 and undated
Box-folder 2:9
Transportation Center
1975
Box-folder 2:10
San Diego – Tijuana train plan
1972-1981
Box-folder 2:11
San Diego County Study
1971-1972
Series III:
Transportation Reports
1965-1982 and undated
Box-folder 3:1
Community Economic Analysis
1965
Box-folder 3:2
San Diego Economic Development Research Program
1966 June
Box-folder 3:3
Study Design: Comprehensive Planning Programs San Diego County
1966 September
Box-folder 3:4
The Growth and Economic Stature of San Diego County
1969 June
Box-folder 3:5
Transportation in the 70’s Proceedings: International Conference on Container Age Management Systems
1970 April 20-1970 April 23
Box-folder 3:6
A Study of Transportation in San Diego County
1971 January
Box-folder 3:7
Candidate Transportation Systems
1971 December
Box-folder 3:8
San Diego-Tijuana Additional Border Crossings
1972 May
Box-folder 3:9
Overall Program Design
1973 July
Box-folder 3:10
Reconnaissance Report on the Fuel Consumption of Freight Modes in the Los Angeles/San Diego Corridor
1974 March
Box-folder 3:11
San Diego Transit Action Plan for Fiscal Year 1974-1975
1974 February
Box-folder 3:12
Economic Bulletin
1975 January-1975 June
Box-folder 3:13
University of California San Diego Traffic Access and Circulation Study
1975 February
Box-folder 3:14
Marketing Information Study
1975 April
Box-folder 3:15
City of San Diego Population and Land Use Bulletin
1975 April
Box-folder 3:16
Goods Movement and Terminal Study Phase 1
1975 August 13
Box-folder 3:17
1975 San Diego Business Survey
1975
Box-folder 3:18
The Union-Tribune’s 1975 Annual Review of San Diego Business Activity
1975
Box-folder 3:19
California transportation plan task force: movement of people in California – issue paper 4
1976 March-1976 May
Box-folder 3:20
San Diego Los Angeles Corridor Study Phase III Final Report
1976 April
Box-folder 3:21
Goods Movement Background Study: San Diego Region
1976 May
Box-folder 3:22
Proceedings of the Fourth Intersociety Conference on Transportation
1976 July 18-1976 July 23
Box-folder 3:23
California transportation plan task force: California transportation plan-policy element
1976 October
Box-folder 3:24
Fronteras 1976: San Diego/Tijuana-The International Border in community relations: Gateway or Barrier?
1976 November 19-1976 November 20
Box-folder 3:25
Transportation perspectives
1976 December
Box-folder 3:26
California transportation plan: Recommended statewide transportation goals, policies and objectives
1977 March
Box-folder 3:27
Transportation Development act: statutes and administrative code for 1980
1980 March
Box-folder 3:28
Intercity bus stations: State intercity bus plan
1980 September
Box-folder 4:1
Intercity bus routes, stations & service restrictions: State intercity bus plan x2
1980 December
Box-folder 4:2
Transportation Development Act: statutes and administrative code for 1981
1981 May
Box-folder 4:3
State bus plan for intercity bus transportation: A prospectus for change in the intercity bus industry x2
1981 June 12
Box-folder 4:4
A prospectus for change in the intercity bus industry: State intercity bus plan
1981 October
Box-folder 4:5
Intercity bus routes, stations & service restrictions x2
1981 November
Box-folder 4:6
California intermodal facilities plan
1982 March 1
Box-folder 4:7
State Intercity Bus Plan
1982 March 1
Box-folder 5:1
California state intercity bus plan
1982 March 4
Box-folder 5:2
Intercity Bus stations (revised 1982)
1982 April
Box-folder 5:3
Transportation Development Act: statutes and administrative code for 1982
1982 August
Box-folder 5:4
The San Diego Visitor Industry Study x2
Undated